TAMPA, Fla. -- Geno Auriemma and his UConn Huskies are a perfect 10.
The Hall of Fame coach joined some elite company in UCLA's John Wooden after tying the Wizard of Westwood with his 10th NCAA tournament title.
"Obviously, it's a very significant number because that's the number that's been out there and people want to talk about it. I'll be the first to say I'm not John Wooden, and I got a bunch of friends who'd tell you I'm right, I'm not," Auriemma said. "As I said the other day, I just think what we've done here in the last 20 years is pretty remarkable in its own right.
"I'll let the people who write the history decide where I fit in."
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Moriah Jefferson each scored 15 points Tuesday night to lead the Huskies to a 63-53 victory over Notre Dame. It was UConn's third straight title; Auriemma and the Huskies have won all 10 of their trips to the national championship game. As has become a tradition, his team carried Auriemma off the court after dumping confetti on his head.
Breanna Stewart added 15 rebounds and eight points for UConn (38-1). The two-time AP player of the year has saved her best games for when the lights shined their brightest.
She earned most outstanding player of the Final Four honors for the third time, making her the first woman ever to achieve that. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the only men's player to do it when he played for Wooden's Bruins.
"There just hasn't been a player like Stewie in the women's game in a long, long time," Auriemma said. "She might be two inches taller than Cheryl Miller and Cheryl Miller was one of best players I saw. ... Stewie's the kind of player that women's basketball probably hasn't seen."
She stated when she came to UConn that her goal was to win four championships. She's now one title away from being the first to win four straight. Stewart has been a huge reason the Huskies have won their three consecutive titles. She broke down on the podium with tears streaming down her face.
"I think it's really surreal and I haven't had a chance to even think about that," said Stewart wearing the championship net around her neck. "I've won three national championships but said I wanted to win four. You can't win four without winning three first."
Auriemma took Stewart out with about 30 seconds to play and gave her a big hug. The 6-foot-4 star is the latest in a long line of outstanding UConn players that Auriemma has coached, including Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Maya Moore.
Those players have helped Auriemma win his 10 championships over 20 years. Wooden won his 10 during a 12-year span.
"I just know that in our sport, from 1995 to today, what we've done against our peers is as good if not better than anybody else has done in their sport against their peers," Auriemma said. "I don't care whether it's harder in that sport."
Auriemma won his title one night after fellow USA Basketball Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski won his fifth men's championship at Duke.
"Our Dad was very proud of Geno and Mike and how throughout their years as collegiate head basketball coaches they have diligently led their student-athletes to be successful on the court, in the classroom and in their lives," Wooden's children Nan and Jim Wooden said in a statement.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw had her team back in the championship game for the fourth time in five seasons. The Irish have come up short each time, including the past two against UConn. Notre Dame's lone title came in 2001.
"It was a great accomplishment to get here," McGraw said. "Was disappointing we weren't able to play our game."
The Irish (36-3) were able to slow the Huskies in the early going, and UConn only led 31-23 at the half.
After the Irish cut it to five to start the second half, UConn scored seven straight to open up a double-digit advantage. The Irish wouldn't go away, thanks to Brianna Turner, who missed the earlier meeting, which the Huskies won by 18 points.
She had eight straight points for the Irish in the second half, including banking in a shot from the top of the key as the shot clock was reaching zero. That got the Irish within 54-48.
After the teams traded baskets, Mosqueda-Lewis scored seven straight, including a 3-pointer, to restore the double-digit advantage with just over four minutes left, and Notre Dame couldn't recover.
"I thought the 3 that Lewis hit was critical," McGraw said.
Turner finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jewell Loyd had 12 points for the Irish, going 4-for-18 from the field. She missed all eight of her shots in the second half.
The Connecticut-Notre Dame matchup was just the second time in the history of the tournament that the same teams played in the final in consecutive years. UConn beat Tennessee in 2003 and 2004.
It was also the 55th meeting between the top two teams in the AP poll with the No. 1 team holding a 34-21 lead. UConn, which finished the season atop the poll, has been involved in the last five of them.



Final

(1) Notre Dame 53

(36-3, 15-1 ACC)

(1) Connecticut 63

(38-1, 18-0 American)




8:30PM,EDT,April 7,2015
Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida


1 2 T
#1ND 23 3053
#1CONN 31 3263
Top Performers
Notre Dame: B. Turner 14 Pts, 10 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
Connecticut: M. Jefferson 15 Pts, 3 Reb, 5 Ast, 4 Stl

Complete Play-By-Play

1 | 2 | All
 

1st Half Summary

TIMENOTRE DAMESCORECONNECTICUT
20:00 0-0Jump Ball won by Connecticut
19:42 0-2Breanna Stewart made Layup.
19:22Lindsay Allen Turnover.0-2 
19:22 0-2Kia Nurse Steal.
19:09 0-2Moriah Jefferson Turnover.
18:59Jewell Loyd missed Jumper.0-2 
18:59Taya Reimer Offensive Rebound.0-2 
18:54Taya Reimer made Layup.2-2 
18:41 2-4Kia Nurse made Layup.
18:24Taya Reimer made Jumper. Assisted by Jewell Loyd.4-4 
18:11 4-4Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Turnover.
18:11Taya Reimer Steal.4-4 
18:02 4-4Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
18:02Lindsay Allen made Free Throw.5-4 
18:02Lindsay Allen made Free Throw.6-4 
17:52 6-4Morgan Tuck missed Layup.
17:52Taya Reimer Block.6-4 
17:52 6-4Connecticut Offensive Rebound.
17:45 6-4Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
17:45Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.6-4 
17:28Lindsay Allen Turnover.6-4 
17:28 6-4Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Steal.
17:23 6-6Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
17:03Taya Reimer Turnover.6-6 
17:03 6-6Breanna Stewart Steal.
16:56 6-6Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
16:56Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.6-6 
16:48Michaela Mabrey made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.9-6 
16:30 9-6Breanna Stewart missed Layup.
16:30Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.9-6 
16:12Michaela Mabrey Turnover.9-6 
15:55 9-6Morgan Tuck Turnover.
15:55Jewell Loyd Steal.9-6 
15:55 Official TV Timeout
15:37Brianna Turner missed Layup.9-6 
15:37 9-6Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
15:25 9-9Moriah Jefferson made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
15:07Brianna Turner Turnover.9-9 
15:07 9-9Morgan Tuck Steal.
14:58 9-9Moriah Jefferson missed Layup.
14:58 9-9Kia Nurse Offensive Rebound.
14:39 9-9Kia Nurse Turnover.
14:23Taya Reimer missed Jumper.9-9 
14:23 9-9Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
14:11 9-9Morgan Tuck missed Layup.
14:11Jewell Loyd Defensive Rebound.9-9 
14:05Jewell Loyd missed Three Point Jumper.9-9 
14:05 9-9Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
13:54 9-9Kia Nurse missed Three Point Jumper.
13:54 9-9Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Offensive Rebound.
13:50 9-11Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Layup.
13:38Jewell Loyd missed Layup.9-11 
13:38 9-11Breanna Stewart Block.
13:38Notre Dame Offensive Rebound.9-11 
13:31Jewell Loyd made Layup.11-11 
13:11 11-14Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
12:53Taya Reimer missed Jumper.11-14 
12:53 11-14Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
12:45 11-14Moriah Jefferson missed Layup.
12:45Taya Reimer Block.11-14 
12:45Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.11-14 
12:39Taya Reimer Turnover.11-14 
12:21 11-16Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Layup. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
12:09Lindsay Allen missed Jumper.11-16 
12:09Taya Reimer Offensive Rebound.11-16 
12:04Taya Reimer missed Jumper.11-16 
12:04Lindsay Allen Offensive Rebound.11-16 
12:04Lindsay Allen missed Two Point Tip Shot.11-16 
12:04Lindsay Allen Offensive Rebound.11-16 
11:59Lindsay Allen missed Layup.11-16 
11:59 11-16Breanna Stewart Block.
11:59 11-16Moriah Jefferson Defensive Rebound.
11:53 11-16Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Turnover.
11:53 Official TV Timeout
11:42Kathryn Westbeld missed Jumper.11-16 
11:42 11-16Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Defensive Rebound.
11:29 11-18Morgan Tuck made Jumper.
11:11Kathryn Westbeld missed Jumper.11-18 
11:11 11-18Moriah Jefferson Defensive Rebound.
10:38 11-18Morgan Tuck missed Layup.
10:38 11-18Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
10:23 11-18Breanna Stewart missed Jumper.
10:23Jewell Loyd Defensive Rebound.11-18 
10:13 11-18Foul on Kia Nurse.
10:13Jewell Loyd made Free Throw.12-18 
10:13Jewell Loyd made Free Throw.13-18 
10:02 13-18Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
10:02 13-18Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Offensive Rebound.
9:45 13-18Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
9:45Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.13-18 
9:41Jump Ball won by Notre Dame13-18 
9:27Lindsay Allen made Jumper.15-18 
9:01 15-18Morgan Tuck missed Three Point Jumper.
9:01Lindsay Allen Defensive Rebound.15-18 
8:47Hannah Huffman missed Layup.15-18 
8:47 15-18Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Block.
8:47 15-18Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
8:40 15-20Breanna Stewart made Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
8:12Lindsay Allen Turnover.15-20 
8:12 15-20Kiah Stokes Steal.
7:59 15-20Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
7:59Lindsay Allen Defensive Rebound.15-20 
7:51Lindsay Allen made Jumper.17-20 
7:30 17-20Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
7:30 17-20Kiah Stokes Offensive Rebound.
7:25 17-22Kiah Stokes made Layup.
7:09Jewell Loyd made Jumper. Assisted by Taya Reimer.19-22 
6:45 19-22Kia Nurse missed Three Point Jumper.
6:44Notre Dame Defensive Rebound.19-22 
6:43 Official TV Timeout
6:30Taya Reimer missed Jumper.19-22 
6:30 19-22Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
6:18 19-25Morgan Tuck made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
5:49Jewell Loyd made Layup.21-25 
5:39 21-25Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
5:39 21-25Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
5:17 21-25Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
5:17Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.21-25 
5:09Jewell Loyd missed Three Point Jumper.21-25 
5:09 21-25Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
4:54 21-25Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Jumper.
4:54Brianna Turner Block.21-25 
4:54Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.21-25 
4:41Taya Reimer missed Jumper.21-25 
4:41 21-25Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
4:14 21-25Moriah Jefferson Turnover.
4:14Lindsay Allen Steal.21-25 
4:08Jewell Loyd missed Layup.21-25 
4:08Notre Dame Offensive Rebound.21-25 
4:04Lindsay Allen Turnover.21-25 
4:04 21-25Moriah Jefferson Steal.
4:01 21-27Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
3:43Jewell Loyd made Jumper.23-27 
3:22Foul on Kathryn Westbeld.23-27 
3:22 Official TV Timeout
3:12 23-27Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
3:12Jewell Loyd Defensive Rebound.23-27 
3:07Brianna Turner Turnover.23-27 
2:50 23-29Breanna Stewart made Jumper. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
2:26Madison Cable missed Layup.23-29 
2:26Madison Cable Offensive Rebound.23-29 
2:22Madison Cable Turnover.23-29 
2:09 23-29Morgan Tuck Turnover.
2:09Madison Cable Steal.23-29 
2:05Lindsay Allen missed Jumper.23-29 
2:05Lindsay Allen Offensive Rebound.23-29 
1:55Foul on Taya Reimer.23-29 
1:55Taya Reimer Turnover.23-29 
1:41 23-29Breanna Stewart missed Three Point Jumper.
1:41 23-29Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Offensive Rebound.
1:37Foul on Taya Reimer.23-29 
1:37 23-29Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Free Throw.
1:37 23-29Connecticut Deadball Team Rebound.
1:37 23-30Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Free Throw.
1:16Michaela Mabrey missed Jumper.23-30 
1:16 23-30Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Block.
1:16Jewell Loyd Offensive Rebound.23-30 
1:14Jewell Loyd missed Layup.23-30 
1:14 23-30Breanna Stewart Block.
1:14Notre Dame Offensive Rebound.23-30 
1:14 23-30Foul on Moriah Jefferson.
1:11Kathryn Westbeld Turnover.23-30 
0:48 23-30Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
0:48 23-30Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Turnover.
0:27Hannah Huffman Turnover.23-30 
0:27 23-30Moriah Jefferson Steal.
0:01Foul on Hannah Huffman.23-30 
0:01 23-31Morgan Tuck made Free Throw.
0:01 23-31Morgan Tuck missed Free Throw.
0:01Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.23-31 
0:00End of 1st half
 

2nd Half Summary

TIMENOTRE DAMESCORECONNECTICUT
20:00Jump Ball won by Notre Dame23-31 
19:49Michaela Mabrey made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.26-31 
19:29 26-31Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
19:29Michaela Mabrey Defensive Rebound.26-31 
19:17Taya Reimer missed Jumper.26-31 
19:17 26-31Breanna Stewart Block.
19:17 26-31Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
19:09Foul on Jewell Loyd.26-31 
19:00Foul on Michaela Mabrey.26-31 
19:00 26-32Kia Nurse made Free Throw.
19:00 26-33Kia Nurse made Free Throw.
18:44Jewell Loyd missed Jumper.26-33 
18:44 26-33Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
18:16 26-33Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
18:16Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.26-33 
17:56Michaela Mabrey missed Jumper.26-33 
17:56 26-33Kia Nurse Defensive Rebound.
17:49 26-33Kia Nurse missed Layup.
17:49 26-33Morgan Tuck Offensive Rebound.
17:44 26-35Morgan Tuck made Layup.
17:44Foul on Michaela Mabrey.26-35 
17:44 26-36Morgan Tuck made Free Throw.
17:24Lindsay Allen Turnover.26-36 
17:24 26-36Breanna Stewart Steal.
17:19 26-38Kia Nurse made Layup.
17:16Notre Dame Timeout
17:01Brianna Turner made Layup. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.28-38 
16:39 28-38Kia Nurse missed Jumper.
16:39Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.28-38 
16:32Madison Cable missed Three Point Jumper.28-38 
16:32Brianna Turner Offensive Rebound.28-38 
16:17 28-38Foul on Moriah Jefferson.
16:07Jewell Loyd missed Layup.28-38 
16:07 28-38Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
15:58 28-38Kia Nurse missed Three Point Jumper.
15:57Notre Dame Defensive Rebound.28-38 
15:56 Official TV Timeout
15:50Taya Reimer Turnover.28-38 
15:50 28-38Moriah Jefferson Steal.
15:45 28-38Moriah Jefferson missed Layup.
15:45Notre Dame Defensive Rebound.28-38 
15:27Taya Reimer missed Jumper.28-38 
15:27Lindsay Allen Offensive Rebound.28-38 
15:19Brianna Turner missed Layup.28-38 
15:19Brianna Turner Offensive Rebound.28-38 
15:19Brianna Turner made Two Point Tip Shot.30-38 
14:54 30-38Morgan Tuck Turnover.
14:34Jewell Loyd missed Jumper.30-38 
14:34 30-38Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
14:19 30-38Kia Nurse missed Layup.
14:19Jewell Loyd Block.30-38 
14:19Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.30-38 
14:08 30-38Foul on Kia Nurse.
14:08Jewell Loyd made Free Throw.31-38 
14:08Jewell Loyd made Free Throw.32-38 
13:56 32-41Moriah Jefferson made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Kiah Stokes.
13:40Lindsay Allen missed Three Point Jumper.32-41 
13:40Madison Cable Offensive Rebound.32-41 
13:32Jewell Loyd missed Layup.32-41 
13:32Notre Dame Offensive Rebound.32-41 
13:22Taya Reimer made Jumper.34-41 
13:01 34-43Breanna Stewart made Jumper. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
12:39Madison Cable made Jumper.36-43 
12:17 36-45Kiah Stokes made Layup. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
11:53Brianna Turner made Layup. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.38-45 
11:39 38-48Morgan Tuck made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
11:17 38-48Foul on Kiah Stokes.
11:17 Official TV Timeout
11:17Madison Cable made Free Throw.39-48 
11:17Madison Cable made Free Throw.40-48 
10:56 40-48Foul on Breanna Stewart.
10:56 40-48Breanna Stewart Turnover.
10:46Brianna Turner made Layup. Assisted by Taya Reimer.42-48 
10:24 42-48Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
10:24 42-48Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Turnover.
10:09Taya Reimer Turnover.42-48 
10:09 42-48Moriah Jefferson Steal.
9:44 42-51Moriah Jefferson made Three Point Jumper.
9:26Taya Reimer missed Jumper.42-51 
9:26Brianna Turner Offensive Rebound.42-51 
9:17Lindsay Allen missed Layup.42-51 
9:17Lindsay Allen Offensive Rebound.42-51 
9:13Madison Cable missed Three Point Jumper.42-51 
9:13Taya Reimer Offensive Rebound.42-51 
8:50 42-51Foul on Gabby Williams.
8:49Brianna Turner made Layup. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.44-51 
8:31Foul on Lindsay Allen.44-51 
8:14 44-51Gabby Williams missed Layup.
8:14Brianna Turner Defensive Rebound.44-51 
8:00Jewell Loyd missed Jumper.44-51 
8:00 44-51Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
7:57Foul on Hannah Huffman.44-51 
7:57 Official TV Timeout
7:49 44-51Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
7:49Madison Cable Defensive Rebound.44-51 
7:36Brianna Turner made Layup. Assisted by Hannah Huffman.46-51 
7:11 46-54Kia Nurse made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
6:34Brianna Turner made Jumper. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.48-54 
6:03 48-56Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
5:51Notre Dame Timeout
5:30Lindsay Allen made Layup.50-56 
5:13 50-56Kia Nurse missed Layup.
5:13Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.50-56 
5:04Jewell Loyd missed Layup.50-56 
5:04 50-56Moriah Jefferson Defensive Rebound.
4:58 50-59Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
4:30Lindsay Allen missed Jumper.50-59 
4:30 50-59Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
4:09 50-61Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Jumper.
4:06Notre Dame Timeout
4:06 Official TV Timeout
3:49Jewell Loyd missed Jumper.50-61 
3:49 50-61Kia Nurse Defensive Rebound.
3:44 50-61Jump Ball won by Connecticut
3:27 50-61Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
3:27Taya Reimer Defensive Rebound.50-61 
3:13Madison Cable missed Layup.50-61 
3:13 50-61Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
2:56 50-61Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
2:56 50-61Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
2:38 50-63Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Layup. Assisted by Morgan Tuck.
2:21Taya Reimer Turnover.50-63 
2:01 50-63Breanna Stewart missed Jumper.
2:01 50-63Morgan Tuck Offensive Rebound.
1:53Connecticut Timeout
1:43 50-63Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
1:43Notre Dame Defensive Rebound.50-63 
1:34Michaela Mabrey made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Lindsay Allen.53-63 
1:14 53-63Moriah Jefferson missed Layup.
1:14Jewell Loyd Defensive Rebound.53-63 
1:08Lindsay Allen missed Three Point Jumper.53-63 
1:08Brianna Turner Offensive Rebound.53-63 
1:02Lindsay Allen missed Three Point Jumper.53-63 
1:02 53-63Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
0:31 53-63Moriah Jefferson Turnover.
0:31Brianna Turner Steal.53-63 
0:22Jewell Loyd missed Three Point Jumper.53-63 
0:22 53-63Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Defensive Rebound.
0:00End of Game



Notre Dame Fighting Irish
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Taya Reimer F333-110-00-03811212626
Brianna Turner F377-90-00-046100112014
Lindsay Allen G403-120-32-2527710518
Jewell Loyd G384-180-34-41451110112
Michaela Mabrey G183-53-30-0011000129
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kathryn Westbeld F50-20-00-0000000110
Madison Cable G221-50-22-2213010104
Hannah Huffman G70-10-00-0000100120
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

21-633-118-8192645115417953

33.3%27.3%100.0%
Connecticut Huskies
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis F406-122-71-23250124315
Breanna Stewart F394-80-10-031215024118
Morgan Tuck F404-132-32-32357103012
Kia Nurse G283-101-42-2123010129
Moriah Jefferson G406-153-80-00335403215
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kiah Stokes C102-20-00-0112110014
Gabby Williams G30-10-00-0000000010
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

25-618-235-711233413106121063

41.0%34.8%71.4%
 Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None - TEAMS: None
 Officials: Mark Zentz, Dee Kantner, Denise Brooks
 Attendance: 19,810